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McCaw unsure about retirement date

Although he knows his retirement is drawing closer All Blacks captain Richie McCaw won’t say when he will finally call it a day.

Although he knows his retirement is drawing closer All Blacks captain Richie McCaw won’t say when he will finally call it a day.

The 33-year-old has already played played 134 Tests for his country but was rested when the All Blacks faced the USA in their end-of-year tour opener in Chicago at the weekend.

McCaw, who made his Test debut against Ireland in 2001, played down talk of retirement when he was asked about his playing future and would not say whether it will happen after the 2015 World Cup in England.

“To say I’m going to give it up or carry on playing, I just don’t know,” McCaw told The Guardian ahead of the clash with the USA.

“You don’t want to give up something you love like that. But, you know, one day the time will come. Whether it’s next year or the year after, I’m not sure.”

McCaw knows he will step away from the constant scrutiny that comes with being an All Black when he announces his retirement.

“I’ve got mates – [the retired hooker] Andrew Hore’s a classic, who was here [on tour] last year and he misses it, he’d do anything to be back here with us,” he said. You’ve just got to remember that sometimes.”

The openside flanker admitted that being in the limelight was not the best part of his role and revealed how much he enjoyed his six month sabbatical in 2013.

“Probably not,” said McCaw.

“Yeah. I do quite enjoy for example being able to walk down the street and not worry. I’d be lying if I said that after 14-odd years of it, at times it doesn’t get a wee bit on top of you.

“I think the best thing I did was a couple of years ago when I had a break for six months. I came over here [the US], in fact, for a bit of time.

“I realised then that to get frustrated, at times it’s natural, but most people are just rugby fans and they love what we do, and what we do is a privilege: being an All Black.